Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Charleston vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Charleston has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureOgunquitCharlestonWells
People
Population
1,379
936Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
58.4±9.3
50% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Lowest
38% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
11.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wells and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
37.7%±8.6
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
13.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$49,286±$17kLowest
39% below U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$238,000±$53kLowest
28% below U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$979±$444Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,350±$297Highest
4% below U.S.
Wells and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$3,750
20% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±26.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.7%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #22 of 133 in ME
School district — Charleston School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town — None in town Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.